DTV 'Stargate' Project Heads To North Pole

MGM's direct-to-video division is teaming with the U.S. Navy and heading for the North Pole for one of its two inaugural releases, Stargate: Continuum, based on the “Stargate SG-1” TV series.

Cast members will travel to the Arctic March 23 for a week-long shoot at the Navy's Applied Physics Laboratory Ice Station.

Martin Wood, who directed more than 70 “Stargate SG-1” and “Stargate Atlantis” TV episodes, will helm the film, which stars Ben Browder and Amanda Tapping, both of whom will reprise their roles as Lt. Col. Cameron Mitchell and Lt. Col. Samantha Carter from the original “Stargate SG-1” series.

Stargate: Continuum, co-financed by MGM and 20th Century Fox Home Entertainment, will shoot a variety of scenes in the ice station, located about 200 nautical miles north of Prudhoe Bay, Alaska. Filming also will involve the Navy submarine USS Alexandria. In one scene, the sub bursts through the ice and into the cold Arctic air, where temperatures hover around 50 degrees below zero.

“We are excited to be working with the U.S. Navy on filming these epic scenes in the arduous conditions of the Arctic,” said Charles Cohen, senior EVP of finance and corporate development. “‘SG-1' fans will certainly enjoy these action-packed sequences, as the ‘Stargate' franchise has a rich history of unique and compelling action adventures.”

“Stargate SG-1” is the longest-running science-fiction series in U.S. television history. Stargate: Continuum is one of two direct-to-video titles based on the series MGM's new DTV unit will produce. The other, Stargate: The Arc of Truth, also co-financed by MGM and 20th Century Fox, begins production April 15. It will be released on DVD prior to Stargate: Continuum, which after a week in the Arctic will resume filming May 22.

MGM DVDs are distributed by 20th Century Fox Home Entertainment. No release dates for the two “Stargate” movies have been set.

MGM's DTV production branch was established in February. It is run by Jason Weiss, who reports to Cohen, and is charged with developing and producing 12 or more films a year.

Weiss is a 12-year veteran of feature film production. While at MTV Films, he oversaw 25 projects, including such titles as The Dirt, Black Hole, The Suffering, Runnin,' Born to Rock and The Wheelman.

Before joining MTV Films, Weiss oversaw production and development at Paramount Pictures and New Regency Productions.